Childhood Obesity News and Research

RSS

By 2050, two-thirds of adults and one-third of adolescents could face obesity in the US

Rising obesity rates in the USA, particularly among adolescents, pose significant health risks, demanding immediate action and tailored prevention strategies.

19 Nov 2024

Community-led intervention curbs childhood obesity and boosts quality of life

The RESPOND trial adapted to COVID-19 disruptions by shifting to a cluster-parallel randomized design, enabling analysis despite the pandemic's impact on school and community participation rates.

12 Nov 2024

Exposure to flame retardants during pregnancy may affect childhood obesity risk

Exposure to organophosphate esters (OPEs) - chemicals found in everyday products that use plastics and flame retardants - during pregnancy may have varying effects on the risks of childhood obesity, according to a new study funded by the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program at the National Institutes of Health.

4 Nov 2024

New Johns Hopkins study shows digital tools help prevent obesity in high-risk young children

A study co-led by a Johns Hopkins Children's Center clinician-researcher shows that adding text messaging and other electronic feedback to traditional in-clinic health counseling for parents about feeding habits, playtime and exercise prevents very young children from developing obesity and potentially lifelong obesity-related problems.

3 Nov 2024

Limiting fast-food outlets can reduce childhood overweight and obesity

Research shows that restricting fast-food outlets can lower obesity rates in children, highlighting the role of planning policies in health outcomes.

25 Oct 2024

UNCG study links feeding practices to rapid infant weight gain

A UNC Greensboro (UNCG) study following 299 women and their infants from pregnancy to toddlerhood examined mul ple psychological, biological, and social factors in the context of infants' rapid weight gain.

24 Oct 2024

Restricting fast-food outlets linked to decreased childhood obesity

Planning policies to restrict the number of new fast-food outlets leads to fewer overweight and obese children according to research led by Lancaster University.

23 Oct 2024

Ultra-processed foods linked to liver disease and insulin resistance in obese children

Ultra-processed food consumption in obese adolescents is linked to insulin resistance and liver disease, stressing the need for improved dietary interventions.

22 Oct 2024

GLP1R medications show promise in reducing suicidal ideation among adolescents with obesity

Adolescents treated with GLP1R drugs for obesity exhibit fewer suicidal thoughts, indicating potential mental health benefits of these medications.

17 Oct 2024

New gene therapy offers hope in combatting childhood obesity

According to the Centers for Disease Control, nearly 20% of children and teens are considered obese.

14 Oct 2024

Can the Mediterranean diet protect against childhood overweight and obesity?

Following the Mediterranean diet may modestly lower children's risk of gaining excessive weight, but the impact was not statistically significant after adjusting for baseline factors. Specific foods like nuts and vegetables offer some protection against large BMI increases.

13 Oct 2024

Robotic buddy encourages toddlers to be more physically active

Parents seeking help in encouraging toddlers to be physically active may soon need to look no further than an inexpensive robotic buddy for their kids, a new study by Oregon State University suggests.

9 Oct 2024

Global surge in childhood obesity signals an urgent health crisis

Since 1990, the rise in childhood overweight and obesity has surged across every continent, almost doubling in prevalence. While the United States has the highest prevalence, other nations are not far behind.

26 Sep 2024

Pilot trial aims to reduce rapid weight gain and obesity risk among Latine infants

With $784,369 from the NIH, UNCG researchers will implement a pilot trial that aims to reduce rapid weight gain and obesity risk among Latine infants by supporting mothers in breastfeeding.

26 Sep 2024

Childhood obesity: How the first 2,000 days hold the key to lifelong health

Researchers reveal that early life factors, especially within the first 2,000 days, play a critical role in shaping future obesity risk. Addressing these factors with integrated interventions could combat the global childhood obesity crisis.

26 Sep 2024

Meal boxes and healthy recipes effective in reducing child obesity

Healthy recipes and subsidized meal boxes can go a long way in helping child obesity. These are the findings of a study conducted at the University of Gothenburg.

25 Sep 2024

Mediterranean diet during pregnancy reduces childhood obesity risk

Following a Mediterranean diet during pregnancy reduced the likelihood of children being overweight or obese by age two, with no cases of obesity in the diet group. The diet’s influence on the leptin gene may explain these effects.

22 Sep 2024

Living in food deserts during early childhood raises long-term obesity risk

Children living in low-income areas with limited food access during early childhood are at greater risk for higher BMI and obesity by age 15. The strongest effects are seen when food insecurity is experienced during pregnancy and early childhood.

22 Sep 2024

Lipid biomarkers in children with obesity linked to future cardiometabolic risks

Scientists from the University of Copenhagen have detected lipid biomarkers in children and teenagers with obesity that indicate an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, liver and heart disease as adults.

20 Sep 2024

Swift management of gestational diabetes lowers child obesity rates

Swiftly achieving glycemic control after a diagnosis of gestational diabetes can bring the baby's risk obesity in childhood down to a level similar to that of children whose mothers did not have gestational diabetes, new research being presented at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Madrid, Spain (9-13 September), has found.

12 Sep 2024